Hammock



(No Model.) A. L. ADAMS.

HAMMOUK.

No. 333,'377. Patented Dec. 29, 1885.

X M w W Nv PETERS, Pnmum rmu. Wuhingtan. u.c.

' UNTTED STATES PATENT ()rnrcn.

ALBERT L. ADAMS, OF CEDAR RAPIDS, IOWA.

HAMMOCK.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 333,377, dated December 29, 1885.

Application filed April 27, 1885. Serial No. 163,636. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, ALBERT L. ADAMS, a citizen of the United States, residing at Cedar Rapids, .in the county of Linn and State of Iowa, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Hammocks, of which the following is a specification.

The object of my invention is to provide a hammock with means for keeping the terminal cords at a fixed or uniform distance apart when the hammock is spread, and which shall fold up with the hammock when collapsed.

The invention consists in a chain, cord, or other flexible connecting medium, to which the terminal cords of the hammock are attached at fixed intervals, and a rigid stick or bar adapted to spread the hammock at or near the same point, as will be hereinafter more fully set forth.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 represents the invention as applied to one end of a hammock, and Figs. 2 and 3 enlarged views of sections of different connecting devices.

Similar letters of reference indicate corresponding parts.

The natural tendency of a hammock suspended from a central point at each end is to collapse and close tightly around the occupant. The effect is very unpleasant, especially in hot weather, and to obviate the difficulty it is customary to interpose a straight or curved stick between the sides of the hammock at or near the termination of the netting. When a plain stick is used, the netting is naturally stretched very much more at the sides than at the middle, the effect being unsatisfactory to the occupant and more or less injurious to the hammock. To overcome this objection the stick is sometimes provided with hooks at intervals, to which the cords of the hammock are attached. But the operation of so attaching these cords is somewhat slow and vexatious; and in order to secure the transverse concave form which is desirable in a hammock at the ends as well as in the middle the stick must be correspondingly curved, rendering it more expensive and less conven ient for transportation than a straight one. This invention is designed to remove these common objections and secure the advantages of a pendent hammock spread evenly by the application of a straight stick, cheaply made, and quickly applied.

The invention is very simple, as will be seen. Near the netted portion of the hammock the terminal cords a are crossed by a cord or chain, 0, connected with said cords at certain distances, which may be uniform or varied, as desired.

In Fig. 1 the transverse cord is represented as tied around the cords of the hammock, and when applied at the place of manufacture it may be thus permanently attached or secured by weaving into the hammock, or otherwise.

In applying the device to hammocks already made it is desirable, however, to provide a means of attachment requiring less time than the tying of a knot. A great variety of such means might be represented, but the two simple forms shown in Figs. 2 and 3 will serve for illustration.

In Fig. 2 the connecting medium 0 is a chain composed of links of wire having a single coil in. the middle. The cords a are introduced into the coil through the space between the two sides of the coil, as represented.

In Fig. 3 the respective cords are fastened securely together by rings pressed upon them with pinchers, or otherwise.

To the ends of the cord or chain 0 may be attached rings 11 d, to receive the shouldered ends of the spreading-stick b; or the stick may have a notch or hook at the end to catch the side of the hammock at or near the end of the connecting-cord and spread it in the same manner, as will be readily understood.

In practice it may not be necessary to connect all the cords of the hammock with the transverse support, though I prefer to so connect the most of them. So, also, in view of the tendency of the hammock to draw together toward the longitudinal center, the connecting chain or cord may be separated in the middle; but to secure the proper spread the hammock-cords from each side nearly to the middle should be secured as indicated. This arrangement allows the hammock to sag to any desired extent, with a straight stick for spreader, as it secures greater flexibility and comfort in the hammock than the devices in common use. Obviously the stick may be placed under instead of over the hammock, should such an arrangement bepreferred.

I am aware that it is not new to hold the cords of a hammock apart by means of a rigid stick having a series of notches, books, or other devices arranged along it to receive the cords, and I do not claim any such apparatus as my invention. Nor do I claim that there is any novelty in providing the end of the spreading-stick with a notch or hook to catch the edge of the hammock. Such a device is only mentioned to show that the simplest kind of a spreading-stick may be used in connection with the flexible means for holding the cords at proper distances apart.

Having thus described myinvention, whatI claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters .Patent, is-

1. A cord, chain, or analogous flexible means for connecting the cords of a hammock at fixed distances apart, in combination with a hammock and a stick or rod for distending the same, substantially as set forth.

2. The combination of hammock cords a, the suspension cord or chain 0, rings or loops d d, and rod b, all constructed and arranged substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

3. As a new article of manufacture, a hammock having acord or chain attached toit transversely at or near the ends of the netting in substantially the manner specified, whereby uniformity in spread of the hammock is secured when the sides are distended by a plain rod placed contiguous thereto, substantially as set forth.

In testimony whereof I aflix my signature in presence of two'witnesses.

ALBERT L. (ADAMS. 

